Lost €200k gold bar returned to Utrecht owner

A gold bar that fell out of a transport vehicle in Utrecht on 15 Nov. 2019 was returned to the police on 24 Nov 2019Politie Utrecht StadFacebook

A gold bar that fell out of a transport van in Utrecht earlier this month has been returned to its rightful owner, thanks to an honest finder who made contact with the police.

The gold bar, worth between 200 thousand and 235 thousand euros, was inside a transport box that fell out of a transport van on November 15th, according to RTL Nieuws. The driver had picked up the bar at the Royal Mint. On the onramp to the A2 highway, the driver discovered that the van's side door was not closed properly and that the transport box was missing.

The owner, who was not identified, offered a reward of 25 thousand euros to the finder of this "very valuable lost property". The owner also stressed that the bar of gold would be impossible to sell.

On Sunday, the Utrecht police said on Twitter that the person who found the gold bar had made contact with them. The police picked up the gold bar and returned it to the owner, after they showed proof of ownership.

Whether the finder's fee of 25 thousand euros was paid, a police spokesperson could not say to RTL Nieuws. "We are no longer involved in the matter. That is something between the owner and the finder", the spokesperson said to the broadcaster.